28 one thing, the boss knows where his bread is buttered. F or instance, he is so kind and considerate with the wholesale trade. He never chisels, nev- er tries to force garments back on the manufacturer, never quibbles about a few dollars on the price. The con- sequence is that a small order from him receives precedence over a larger order from some other people. Again, in his letters that go out to each member of the sales force there appears, every so often, a homily like the following: "I am always so delighted when I hear customers tell us about the lovely class of employees we have and the courteous treatment they receive here. However, I am most despondent when once in a while customers complain of rudeness and 'high hat' attitude and lack of attention. I want you all to make a resolution"-and so on. As a result of these gentle reminders, poor but hopeful ladies are not too badly frightened when they come into the store; eventually they buy some- thing, and it all adds up on the cash register. I T is almost impossible to discuss the Goodman private life as distinct from the Goodman business. The divid- ing line is hazy. Even his home is not a thing apart. When the pres- ent building was being made ready, it was found that the top-floor space was not needed, so the architects turned it into a huge and gor- geous apartment for Mr. and Mrs. Good- man. Officially they are styled "janitor and .. " b f Janltress, ecause 0 a quirk in the build- ing laws; only a jani- tor can live in a place where manufacturing is done. Mrs. Goodrnan is a good-looking, salty per- son with the family fail- ing for wisecracks. Ann and Andrew are young and attractive and gay. They are both unmar- ried, and the} live up- stairs with Father and Mother. The Good- mans enjoy each other. Every now and then they all go off on a . j ....: '. , 3 \ t=-'. weekend, play golf, win and lose ter- rific bets with one another, and have an uproarious time. They are all rather rough on Mr. Goodman, dragging him to the theatre to improve his mind, relishing jokes at his expense (the one about the waiters in Paris is a classic), and so forth. He enjoys the jokes him- self. F or that fiftieth-birthday dinner a few years ago, several talented friends got together and wrote his life history in verse, with illustrations. One of its gems of humor is a posed photograph of Mr. Goodman, with a Bergdorf Goodman mannequin, clad in Berg- dorf Goodman lingerie, draped around his neck. Another is the following tribute to the hero: A stickler, he, for etiquette, He wouldn't get his knuckles wet- The only man in all N ew York Who dunks his Schnecken with a fork. He cherishes this volume, and shows it on the least provocation. . . ;.;;.: ,;,. ; .... .,- ............... . . \J> :;; ';r :'.,. ,.:,;ffi "::..,: : }; .. ..' <, '(%.. 't $ '_'" ;7è ;;". "" (rI'n having two tabLes) but one of them isn't i1J portanl.)) The family weakness for jokes- good, middling, and terrible - being w hat it is, it is no wonder the organiza- tion has been infected. Twice a year- spring and fall-the house has a formal opening, or, rather, two openings. The first is for everyone connected with the firm, and is attended by more than a thousand people: no custom- ers are present, but the fashion-writ- ers are. Some sort of gag is always staged. At one of these showings not long ago, just as the last model was finish- ing her tour of the long, gray-car- peted room, Mr. Sheets on a bicycle came pedalling madly down the centre. Mr. Sheets is the official in charge of the stylish stouts. He was decked out in a blonde wig and a grass skirt and a peanut hat. Everybody thought it was very fun- ny. Just a big, happy family. -HELENA HUNTINGTON SMITH . : i ""':1': . "--::.: ':--;f..;: .. " f 1 -' .:....':........ . . .. ....... ...:/..... '.::::--:.:..:.ø.:, ... ...-... .; -:. .",;. . "'o/>_4i;.!i:i:; .... Y':'=:.:.' < }fif:* .:: J' - iJ::Y:if;( . :::::.:::,..:&. . . ...- .. 40;" J\": ' "'" :;: . . ·